AIR RAID REPRISALS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIV, Issue 16670, 15 October 1917, Page 6

AIR RAID REPRISALS.

■ ] I * __ GOVERNMENT'S POLICY. ]

1 WORK OF VOLUNTEER POLICE. " , LONDON, Oct. 4. s The Times says that the announcement e on the strength of the Prime Minister's '•j roadside remark that the Government has * i decided on air reprisals is somewhat mis- * j leading. That there is no sudden ohange ,J of policy is apparent. - Delay has been i. ! caused by the necessities of construction a i for tho requirements of the army. Con--2 . slractiira has, however, reached a point at r | which reprisals can be undertaken without n | interfering with army supplies. The rec" organisation of the 'air service has been long considered.. Projected reforms will v J settle the Government policy without re- '' ' gard to the results of recent raids, nor *, j with a desire .to triumph over the senti- \ a ! mental objections to aerial offensives. The 3 1 whole question is the selection of the best [- i objects for attack to gain a military vie--3) tory, namely) attacks on Germany and an 3 <■ extension of the operations which have a long been carried out behind the German 1 lines. Genera] Smuts has been engaged & on behalf of the Cabinet in supervising the progress of war aviation. Steel helmets were issued to-day to London's*2o,ooo volunteer police, citizens above the military age who are uniformed and turn out for street duty twice weekly, also during every air raid. They issue warnings and help civilians to take cover. The most dangerous duty is performed » heroically and ungrudgingly. Their averf age duty during the past week has been > 34 hours, during 11 of which they were f exposed to enemy bombs and the falling i ; shrapnel of the anti-aircraft barrage. - j Many lives have been saved and panics 9 ! obviated by their timely action. Children . j especially have been safeguarded. In adj dition the citizen police have worked i hundreds of ambulances, and organised , salvage corps. Thev have taken charge [ of damaged and falling buildings, and „ ..organised observation posts. Further they have surrounded the city and spotted t German aircraft. Many thieves and picki pockets have been arrested in the underj ground shelters. r